As we welcome a new school year, I am reminded of the special energy that fills our classrooms, hallways, and community during the back-to-school season. I hope these summer months have provided you and your family with opportunities to rest, connect, and prepare for another year of joy, growth, and discovery.
Our dedicated and talented team has worked tirelessly this summer to prepare our schools for the year ahead to help ensure they are safe, clean, and welcoming. To that end, as we shared with you earlier this month, we are deeply excited to launch a renewed emphasis on kindness across all of our schools. This will include, among other things, kindness-themed activities, lessons, and celebrations.
While academic growth and achievement remain at the heart of our mission, we know that kindness creates the foundation for safe, supportive, and thriving schools. Whether it’s welcoming a new student, lending a hand to a classmate, or offering a word of encouragement, these simple acts have a profound impact on the lives of others. Acts of kindness create stronger communities, build confidence, and help every student feel that they belong. I am so excited to see how kindness further becomes part of the bedrock of education here in Hanover!
I invite you to partner with us in this life-changing work – having conversations with your student, participating in kindness activities at home, and celebrating acts of kindness you witness, no matter how small. Whether it is through these kindness efforts, volunteering to assist young readers, becoming a Watch D.O.G. at your child’s school, or simply showing up and attending one of the hundreds of events at our schools, we are deeply grateful for your support and partnership. Together, we can promote kindness, achieve at high levels, and prepare our students for success beyond their time in our schools.
I hope you and your family have a wonderful school year!
Sincerely,
Dr. Lisa Pennycuff
Superintendent of Schools